In a country facing a deficit of approximately 10,000 preschool spots, the government has unveiled a project to provide an additional 5,000 places, offering 208 euros per child and 15,000 euros for each new classroom opened by private institutions.
The initiative plans to open 200 new classrooms and requalify existing ones to accommodate more children. However, the Association of Private and Cooperative Educational Establishments (AEEP) raises concerns that few new classrooms might materialize.
“Opening new classrooms will be very difficult because it is not feasible to open rooms and pay salaries with these amounts. What we will see are students filling the classrooms that are not yet full,” cautions Rodrigo Queiroz e Melo, Executive Director of the AEEP.
Rodrigo e Melo acknowledges the significance of involving the private sector to expand the public education network, but warns that “the terms of the agreements are problematic.”
The rates set in the ordinance published last week—208.05 euros per child monthly—are “clearly insufficient” and would create “a system based on precarious work.”
According to the AEEP, the amount is inadequate for covering the salaries of a preschool teacher and an assistant: “It is very easy to have a teacher earning 1,500 or 1,700 euros,” and this figure, paid 14 times a year, must include additional costs such as work insurance and social security.
Moreover, the agreements to be established with private entities will last three years. “And then what? What do I do with the classroom, the teacher, and the assistant? This cannot be a hit-and-run agreement; there must be a minimum stability,” he argues, advocating for at least three triennial contracts.
To Rodrigo Queiroz e Melo, this issue concerns “labor code and respect for workers.” Institutions “cannot hire someone for just three years (…) nor can the state foster job insecurity.”
If current rules persist, few private entities are expected to open new classrooms, warns the AEEP, fearing that in the next school year, new vacancies in private and cooperative establishments will be minimal and only in “classrooms not yet full and where more students can be admitted” up to the maximum limit of 25 children.
The AEEP desires substantial improvement to the current model without its destruction.
Another change requested from the government to be elected in May is the end of the supplementary model. Current legislation stipulates that families can only apply to private institutions if no public space is available.
“If there are X students, there should be X participated spots,” advocates Rodrigo e Melo, adding that in a single classroom, there shouldn’t be children whose parents pay tuition alongside those attending for free: “Portugal either decides it wants free preschool or it doesn’t,” he stated.
“We believe the measure makes a lot of sense but must be completely restructured. There’s nothing more dangerous than a good idea poorly implemented because it can kill it,” warns Rodrigo Queiroz e Melo, calling for a revision of the ordinance.
Last month, the government allocated 42.5 million euros to finance additional spots, prioritizing the most disadvantaged families.
The objective is to strengthen offers in the neediest regions, primarily located in the Lisbon area, such as Sintra, Seixal, Amadora, Odivelas, Lisbon, and Barreiro.
Preschool enrollment is already underway, and results will be announced on July 1. Only children not placed in the public network can apply for a free spot provided by the private and cooperative sector.
